L Catterton, the private equity firm backed by LVMH, is reportedly looking to create the largest independent swimwear and beach lifestyle platform in the world through its investments in Seafolly and Maaji. The global platform will combine for the moment Seafolly, the Australian swimwear label, in which L Catterton acquired a controlling interest in 2014, and Maaji, the Colombian beachwear brand, which L Catterton has just acquired from Manuela and Amalia Sierra, its co-founders.  L Catterton said it plans to expand the markets and product categories of both brands. Founded in 1975 in Australia, Seafolly is now sold in 41 countries, and has 32 standalone stores, of which 22 are in Australia, six in the U.S. and four in Singapore, along with its own e-commerce site. Maaji was founded by the Sierra sisters in 2002. The Colombian label is currently present in more than 54 countries and has 12 standalone stores across the Americas, along with a number of partners including Amazon, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, Revolve, Zappos, and Anthropologie. L Catterton recently invested in Pinarello, the Italian producer of high-end road bikes, as reported by SGI Europe in December 2016 (vol. 27, n° 40, 41).

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